In This Issue: Ricketts Glen State Park: 18 Waterfalls and a 3 Mile Hike Extending the Mid State Trail with the KTA Trail Crew Hiking Tip - Consider a Ground Cloth For Your Tent Announcements - Hiking Organizations & Outing Clubs Deal of the Month - Atwater Carey Family First Aid Kit Ricketts Glen State Park: 18 Waterfalls and a 3 Mile Hike Ricketts Glen State Park is over 13,000 acres in size and contains a 245 acre lake, Lake Jean. But what Ricketts Glen is most known for is the 22 named waterfalls found in the glens south of Lake Jean, with the largest of these waterfalls standing 94 feet tall. I have lived in Pennsylvania all my life and I can't recall ever visiting Ricketts Glen. It was a suggestion of a fellow hiker from Maryland that I visit the park that I decided to make sure a hike on the Falls Trail was in my future. The Falls Trail is a 3.5 mile loop that showcases 18 of the 22 named falls. The trail has a reputation for being a rough and dangerous trail. It is not a trail that you can leisurely walk, wearing only flip-flops or sandals. Trails near waterfalls usually mean two things: steep and wet. You'll find the hiking the trail rather easy if you come prepared. Hiking boots are strongly recommended. Attempts have been made to make hiking the trail easier by building stone steps and walkways, but there are areas that can be slippery. Take your time and watch your step. Slow and easy will make this a most enjoyable hike. [LINK TO TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS] Extending the Mid State Trail with the KTA Trail Crew Three times a year, typically during the month of June, volunteers of the Keystone Trail Association spend 6 days a week building and maintaining trails around Pennsylvania. This year the KTA conducted trail crews to improve and expand the Chuck Keiper Trail, Pinchot Trail, and the Mid State Trail. I had the honor and pleasure to participate, if only for a couple of days, on the trail crew for the Mid State Trail. This was my first KTA trail crew. The last Trail Crew of the summer, this was based in Tioga county as the KTA and the Mid State Trail Association worked on extending the Mid State Trail northward of Morris, PA. Work on this trail extension started on Tuesday and was well under way when I arrived Thursday evening. The work during my two days of participation was hard, but I felt good afterwards, getting some much needed physical activity, and knowing that I helped create something that hikers will enjoy for many, many years to come. [READ MORE AND VIEW PHOTOS OF THE KTA TRAIL CREW] Hiking Tip - Consider a Ground Cloth For Your Tent Chances are when you purchased your new tent it didn’t come with a ground cloth. The material used for the flooring of most tents is a little heavier and more rugged than the fabric used for the tent walls. But you’ll get many more years of use from your tent if you use a ground cloth as well, protecting your tent from sticks, roots and stones. Not only does a ground cover help extend the life of your tent, it also helps keep you dry, especially during all day soakers or very heavy downpours. You will need to make sure that the edges of the cloth are folded under your tent to prevent rain from being funneled under it. Even better yet, cut the ground cloth a few inches smaller than the tent floor to eliminate the need to fold. Your ground cloth will surely get damp as it will be between you and the ground. Just like your tent, you will need to make sure you dry your ground cloth thoroughly. If possible, dry it before you pack up and leave camp, and at the very least, make sure you dry it as soon as you get home. Announcements - Hiking Organizations & Outing Clubs July 20-22, 2007: 4th Annual "Prowl The Sproul" Hiking Event Sproul State Forest District staff again are joining forces with the Keystone Trails Association and the Western Clinton Sportsmen's Association to introduce association members and the public to the wealth of hiking opportunities found in north central Pennsylvania. At least 12 of the most popular trails in Sproul and neighboring Susquehannock state forest districts have been selected to offer hikers a variety of terrain and scenery in the fourth annual “Prowl the Sproul” adventure, July 20-22. [LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROWL THE SPROUL] July 27-29, 2007: KTA Trail Care Mid State Trail (State College Region) Base camp: Poe Paddy State Park. Replace bridge over Little Poe Creek. Contact Tom Thwaites (ttt2@pennswoods.net) if you are interested in helping out. August 10-12, 2007: KTA Trail Care on the Quehanna Trail Base camp: Parker Dam State Park. Contact Ralph Seeley (rsbb219@pennswoods.net) if you are interested in helping out. Do you or your hiking organization or outing club have information that you'd like to share? Planning a trip, fund raiser, or future trail maintenance? Then let the "Go Take A Hike" e-Newsletter help. Submit your announcements to webmaster@pahikes.com. We will post all announcements here each month for everyone to see. [SUBMIT YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE WEBMASTER] Deal of the Month - Atwater Carey Family First Aid Kit The Atwater Carey Family First Aid Kit is designed to treat almost any wilderness or urban injury. Content features include wound closures, trauma dressings, triangular bandage, bandage scissors, protective gloves, back country first aid instructions. Designed for a group size up to 5 people and a trip length of 5 days The Family First Aid Kit retails for $29.99. Typically selling for $24.99 on The Hiking Spot, you can now get this first aid kit for only $19.99. To take advantage of these great saving, use coupon code FIRSTAID during checkout. This offer ends August 31st and is only valid for "Go Take A Hike" e-newsletters subscribers. Only one coupon/coupon code per order. Some coupons can only be used once. Other restrictions may apply. This exclusive Deal of the Month offer is only valid for "Go Take A Hike" e-Newsletter subscribers. [GET YOUR FAMILY FIRST AID KIT AT THE HIKING SPOT]     www.pahikes.com www.thehikingspot.com The Hiking Spot 290 South Main St. Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 (814) 359-4389 webmaster@pahikes.com Click on the link below to unsubscribe